Clarksville weekly chronicle. (Clarksville, Tenn.) 1873-1890, 1887-05-21
WHOLE NO. 2,766.

Irlenus In Baltimore, pressing them with all
the earnestness OF hls nature to 20 TO Capt.
Crusman's relief, furnish whatever he might
need at any cost, and also any friend whom
Crusman might recommend, and send the
bill TO him. His friends tried but could do
nothing under the strict army regulations
OF discipline, bat after his escape that letter
saved his life. Capt. Crusman appreciated
the pure motive OF the generous-hearted
man, and will ever cherish his memory for
this disinterested act OF kindness
Agrin, In this is exhibited the great patriot
ism of most noble father. after giving three
beloved sons to the Confederacy-Ca
Frank, Col Tom and Irwin, whose galIantry
Is recorded in war history--John Fletcher,
the last, in whom was centsred the doating
love OF fond old parents, fired by the ruling
passion of the hour, 5te love of fireside. home
and country, and the feelings Of young man
hood swelling In his bosom, broke loose
from all of those tender Ties TO answer to his
country's call. He was so very young, so
above stated, that his brother. Capt Frank,
refused to let him Join the company. Capt.
Crusman, then Lieutenant, took the youth
Into his tent and kindly demonstrated with
him, telling him Of the hardship OF soldier
ltfe, that he was too young to bear arms and
keep up with the army, and begging him to
return home. "No," said the boy, "all OF
that makes no difference TO me. / have
determined on my coHrce, and II my friends
Will not let me stay with then, can go to
another command" Very soon, however,
Fletcher was stricken down with a severe
fever, and then IL was that Mr. Beaumont
visited the army, staying by his beloved
boys side, nursing him tenderly through his
long spell of sickness, until he was able to
come home. The reader can only imagine
the, hardships, toll, mental anxiety and
great suffering endured by the anxious old
father, whose snow-white locks and totterlng
form indicated that his days were about
numbered, by the long and dangerous jour
ney through the enemy's lines to reach his
suffering child. Men who went through the
cociict will remember the difficulties by the
wayside, over mountains, and through dark,
rugged valleys, infested by robbers and
guerillas from both armies, boisterous
streams to cross, bridges all destroyed and
widespread desolation showing on every
side. 1t was only strong men with bravo
hearts who were fitted for such journey,
and SO few had the courage to undertake 1t.
Rarely are men moved by such compassion,
and after all, as soon as Fletcher had fully
regained his strength, the fond parents, see
Ing strong purpose and courage to go forth to
battle, yielded their consent, sacrificing their
last born, in whom their tenderest love and
fondest affec ions were centered, upon their
countrys altar to the fortunes Of war. and he
left bathed in a mothers tears and carrying
"a N fok D arJe rio fot, fbo
Fiftieth Tennessee Regiment. He was ap-
pointed Adjutant to his brother, Lieutenant
Colonel I. w. Beaumont, and was killed at
Missionary Ridge, Nov. 25th, 1868, while
leading a charge with the battle flag in his
hands, Never O more courageous, dauntless
soldier faced a cannons mouth. He was
invincible, a boy of noble impulses, strong
mind and indomitable will, full Of hope and
promise, which made 1t so hard to give him
up, and 1t was after this that Mr. Beaumont
interested himself so much In behalf Of Capt.
Crusman, as above related.
Mr.. John Proudfit, on old and eccentric
bachelor contemporaneous with Mr.. Beau
mont and a rival stemmer for the best tobac-
co crops, was man of mo religion, but was
proud ofhis ancestry and stood upon his hon
or. He would laugh at and ridicuie neigh
Dor Beaumont's piety, because he was too
strict to help the OK out of the ditch on SUM-
day, while he himself was not troubled with
any such scruples, and could facilitate business
very much by loading and unloading boats
ON Sunday when they happened in, and that
was nearly every Sunday in boating time.
Time, however, wore on and Mr.. Proudfit
was stricken down by disease. Recognizing
the near approach of the end, he became
deeply concerned on the subject of salvation.
Ministers and kind-hearted friends called
| frequently to administer comfort and conso-
lation. instructing him in the way, but his
earnest pleading all the while was, "Give me
the religion of Henry Beaumont-I don't
| want and won't have any other kind" Can
| the reader contemp plate so marvslous char
| acter and not conclude that the facts are as
intimated in the outset; that Mr.. Beaumont
was man OF God, that his heart was full OF
the Spirit and his daily walk with Christ
| Is it not wonderful beyond credullty that he
could live SO long, do SO many things, mix
with all classes, socially, religously and COM
| mercially, dealing with roughs and honest
men alike, and never have word uttered to
| his discredit; but to the contrary sought after
| by all classes as an adviser and leader in
everything. and honored by all. Henry #.
| Beaumont was that man, and his name is
still power in the land. Let all honor be
awarded his momory. 1t was he who first
planted the gospel In Ciarksville and in.
clined all men to hear and accept 1t. 1t was
| he who instilled the spirit which has caused
SO many beautiful spires to rise, pointing
heavenward. giving Clarksvill the proud ap-
pellation Of the "City Of Churches" It was
he who infused life into that educational
which has done so much for this lovely city
and surrounding county. 1t was he who
shaped that commerce, fostering Its growth,
which now places Clarksville In the list OF
greatest tobacco markets on the continent. 1t
was he who smothered UNCONVENTIONAL jeal-
ousy and religious bigotry, uniting all Christ
ian people in one common bond OF Christian
love and fellowship and helping each other in
their various enterprises. II was he who
formed the early ties which made the busi-
ness men In Clarksvile. whose names cluster
like sparkling gems around his all through
this book, 50 powerful 20 accomplish any OBJ
ject or carry out any enterprise they under
took. He preached the spirit OF union, fideli-
ty, earnestness and energy to ali, doctors, law
yers, business men and laborefs, and that
spirit still lives with those who were boys In
- I.a4 L.. ~.